US independent power producer FPL Energy narrowly edged out Spanish utility Iberdrola to become the top global wind power owner in 2006, according to the latest rankings from Emerging Energy Research (EER).

FPL Energy closed 2006 ahead of Iberdrola by just 156MW following major US project activations, but Iberdrola will likely reclaim leadership in 2007 with the acquisition of ScottishPower, which represents 1,400MW of wind power capacity installed in the UK and the US, according to EER's Global Wind Plant Ownership Rankings. EER ranks the global top 20 wind plant owners, on a net-ownership basis, which together account for approximately one-third of wind power capacity worldwide. Led by firms active in the US and Spain, the top 20 wind power operators added over 5,100MW in 2006. These activations have come through a roughly even mix of existing pipeline projects on line, and completion of major developer acquisitions. Utilities continue to dominate the rankings, representing 14 of the top 20 wind power owners.